Hourglass-shaped dermal punch and methods for its use

• US 5,961,529 A
• Filed: 01/12/1998
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James E. Arnold
• Original Assignee: James E. Arnold
• Inventors: Arnold, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US09/005,745
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 606/133, 606/184-188, 600/564-568
• US Class Current: 606/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/10 Hair or skin implants

Abstract

The invention provides an exemplary dermal punch and methods for its use. The dermal punch comprises a handle and a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is operably attached to the handle and the distal end is sharpened and has a generally hourglass shape.

Claims

1. A method for transplanting grafts of skin having hair, the method comprising:

obtaining a generally rectangular graft of skin having at least one hair;

forming a generally hour glass shaped incision in the scalp;

removing a section of skin defined by the incision to create a region for receiving the graft of skin;

placing the graft of skin into the region.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising allowing the natural tension of the skin in the vicinity of the incision to expand the region into a generally rectangular geometry prior to placing the graft of skin into the region.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising forming the incision by inserting a distal end of a tubular shaft into the scalp, wherein the distal end is sharpened and has a generally hourglass shape.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising removing accumulated tissue from the tubular shaft through a tissue escape port in a wall of the shaft.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising forming a plurality of generally hour glass shaped incisions in the scalp and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into each incision.